I started a book today, it's called The Silence of Adam. I'm only one chapter in, and it has already got me to thinking. One of the thoughts that I've had, is that in my pursuit of true, authentic manhood, have I missed the point? What I mean by that is, what is the true goal of becoming an authentic man? Is this a goal I want to achieve so that people can say, "Look at Dave, he sure has it all together.", or "Man I wish I could be more like Dave."
Realistically, I've got to say there may actually be a little truth in there. Not that that is the only reason that I want to be the best man that I can be for my wife, children and the community in which I live. I want to follow the examples that Jesus has laid down for me to follow. And that is where this is really going....
In order for me to be the best man that I can be, I've got to let go of everything but Jesus. I have to give it all to Him, and then follow where He leads me. No agendas, no alterior motives just follow Jesus every day and see where that leads me. And to be quite honest and transparant about that, it really is a scary proposition to follow Jesus like that. To get up each day not knowing what the day may hold.
As I was getting kids up this morning, and loading the van for my bride and kids to head off to the home school coop that we are a part of, I looked to the east and saw one of the most incredible sights I've ever seen. The sun was not yet coming over the horizon but the light of the sun was and the reflections off of the clouds in the sky was breathtaking. Oranges and lavendars in a mix that I've never quite seen together. As I stood there thanking my Father for the beautiful sunrise, I was quickened in my spirit of the Scripture that says, "God's mercies are new every morning." (Dave paraphrase).
Every day that we wake up and breathe breath is a new day full of possiblities and wonder. But do I actually live like I believe that? My days are so full of the "me possibilites" that often I find myself ending the day and thinking, "Oh, hey Lord...how was your day? Mine was, well You know....sorry I missed our time together...."
I think from reading that first chapter in The Silence of Adam, the main thing I'm finding now, is am I falling on my knees before my King and spending time in His Presence every day? The answer today is, not as much as I would like to, but then I remember that His mercy is new every morning and think...that's great, I get to try again tomorrow.
Strength and honor for the Kingdom....and the King!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Is Your Spirit-man a Mini-me?
Okay, so we are a triune being just like our Maker. We are a spirit (the real me), we have a soul (mind, will & emotions) and we live in a body (that flesh and blood part of you that everyone thinks is so attractive).
So as I was listening to a minister on the radio on the way to work, he was talking about developing our faith. You see we all start out with the same measure of faith (Romans 12:8) "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Everyone starts out with the same amount of faith (that's because God is fair & just), then it is up to us to see our faith grow.
So as I'm listening to the message today, the minister says, "So many people are living as spiritual dwarves." and immediately my mind goes to an image of "Mini-me" from the Austin Powers movies. If you've seen these you know that he is a clone of Dr. Evil, only in smaller form. So now I'm thinking, okay if my spirit resides inside of my body, is it the same size, or is it a dwarf size? Have I grown my faith, or is it stunted, never having grown past it's original size?
My thoughts also go to the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-29), what have I done with what the Lord has given me? If I was to answer this truthfully, I think that I would have to answer that my spirit-man looks a lot more like a mini-me, than an actual me. This is not to beat myself up or anything, just a truthful assessment of my life. So how about you? Are you a spiritual dwarf? If you answer yes, then what are you going to do about it?
For me, I'm going to begin to grow my faith. How is that done you might ask? It's done by feeding on God's Word. A daily dose of scripture, is like our neccessary food. Remember, Jesus said that man won't live by bread (bodily food) alone, but by every Word (spiritual food) that proceeds from the mouth of God. According to Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing the words of Christ.
I heard it put this way, most Christians feed their bodies three full meals a day, and their spirits one cold snack a week. If we were to feed our bodies one cold snack a week, we would grow weaker and weaker. So by that reasoning, if we feed our spirits one cold snack a week, our faith will grow weaker and weaker. It was said of Smith Wigglesworth that no matter where he was, at home, in a church member's home or at a resturaunt, after finishing the meal, he would say (and I'm paraphrasing here), "Okay, so we've fed our bodies, now let's feed our spirits." And he would bring out his bible and read some scripture and from time to time even expound on it a little. It was said that he did this after every meal. What a great idea, perhaps I'll try that with my family.
Strength and honor...for the Kingdom and the King!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Does She Know This...Really Know This?
I'm about to turn 45, and in a few weeks my bride and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. There has been a lot of reflection in my life lately. So I was wondering about my relationship with my wife, and whether or not she really knew how I felt about her.
I thought of all that she has done in the last 20 years to make our house a home, and it dawned on me, that all the cleaning, laundry, dinners, etc. those things I could have hired out from a service, she didn't really have to do those things. The home repairs (which my bride loves to do) and the yard work (which she doesn't like me to do - apparently I don't do as good a job as her), all of these things are things that I am very appreciative that she has done for all these years, but again they are things that I could hire someone to do for me.
With all of my thinking about this, a realization came to me, and that was really what I need my wife for, is companionship and a never-ending relationship. You see, all of the stuff that we clamor after, and all the things that we scurry around doing, really when all is said and done, don't amount to anything, after all when I read in the Bible I see that eventually God is going to burn everything up with fire, and create a new heaven and a new earth. So all this stuff we are trying to gain and achieve (while not bad for us to have to be sure) is not the end result of our lives.
Remember, we are made in the image of God. God is an Eternal Being, so therefore we are eternal beings as well. The one thing that will last throughout eternity is the relationships that we have made while we were on this earth. So the thing that my bride needs to know from me is that she is loved by me, not for what she can do for me, but that she is loved by me, for who she is to me. My eternal companion and friend.
So, let me pose this question to you, does your bride know this...really know this? Or is she operating under the assumption that it is what she can do for you, not who she is to you? I know that I hadn't thought of this until yesterday, and I am making a change in my life so that she knows that it is who she is to me, not anything else that matters to me. She is loved, because I choose daily to love her from an unconditional heart....strength and honor.......
I thought of all that she has done in the last 20 years to make our house a home, and it dawned on me, that all the cleaning, laundry, dinners, etc. those things I could have hired out from a service, she didn't really have to do those things. The home repairs (which my bride loves to do) and the yard work (which she doesn't like me to do - apparently I don't do as good a job as her), all of these things are things that I am very appreciative that she has done for all these years, but again they are things that I could hire someone to do for me.
With all of my thinking about this, a realization came to me, and that was really what I need my wife for, is companionship and a never-ending relationship. You see, all of the stuff that we clamor after, and all the things that we scurry around doing, really when all is said and done, don't amount to anything, after all when I read in the Bible I see that eventually God is going to burn everything up with fire, and create a new heaven and a new earth. So all this stuff we are trying to gain and achieve (while not bad for us to have to be sure) is not the end result of our lives.
Remember, we are made in the image of God. God is an Eternal Being, so therefore we are eternal beings as well. The one thing that will last throughout eternity is the relationships that we have made while we were on this earth. So the thing that my bride needs to know from me is that she is loved by me, not for what she can do for me, but that she is loved by me, for who she is to me. My eternal companion and friend.
So, let me pose this question to you, does your bride know this...really know this? Or is she operating under the assumption that it is what she can do for you, not who she is to you? I know that I hadn't thought of this until yesterday, and I am making a change in my life so that she knows that it is who she is to me, not anything else that matters to me. She is loved, because I choose daily to love her from an unconditional heart....strength and honor.......
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